Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it named new executives to head its business divisions in line with steps to adopt new leadership amid the absence of heir apparent Lee Jae-yong.

Samsung said it named President Kim Ki-nam to head the device solutions division, which oversees the company's chip business.

President Kim Hyun-suk was named to head the consumer electronics division, while President Koh Dong-jin was tapped as the new head of the IT and mobile division, effective immediately, the company said.

Samsung said it will maintain the current three co-CEO management structure.

The company said the announcement came as Samsung's CEO and Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun, who also headed the chip business, offered to resign earlier this month, along with President Yoon Boo-keun and President Shin Jong-kyun, who headed the consumer electronics and mobile divisions, respectively. Kwon, Yoon and Shin will remain as members of the board until March.

"The next generation of leaders is well-suited to accelerate the pace of innovation and address the demands of the connected world. They have proven track records with extensive experience and outstanding expertise in their fields," Kwon said in a statement.

Samsung added while President Lee Sang-hoon will step down from the seat as the chief financial officer, he was recommended to succeed Kwon as the chairman of the board in March. The company said it marks the first time that Samsung will separate the chairman of the board and the CEO roles. (Yonhap)